Gloucester High School is getting a bit of a reputation around the agricultural show circuit. It has a reputation for being the school to beat, and the recent results from the 2019 Newcastle Show are just another example. GHS agricultural teacher Erin Blake took 15 students from year nine through to 12, plus seven animals to the Newcastle Showground on Friday March 1, and they returned with a slew of ribbons. The team consisted of year nine students, Lachlan Blanch, Jessica Kernahan, Josh Norrie; year 10 students, Bradley Conomos, Lane Edwards, Bridget Hill, Amy Shultz, Brock Sopher, Courtney Webeck; year 11 students, Sarah Bensen, Bryce Berry, Tayla Casey, Mitchel Osborne, Toby Ware; and year 12 student Jordyn Crook. Ms Blake opted to bring a larger number of junior students to this event, being mindful of the time away from school for the students who are currently in their HSC year, but also to give the younger students more exposure to the show environment. "They are the students who will be taking part in the shows in the future, so it was a way to give them more experience," Ms Blake said. "This show was a trial run for our future competitions with these cattle. Next at Gloucester, and their final show at Wingham Beef Week in May." At the Newcastle Show, the students were awarded the following ribbons: Senior individual junior judging: 1st Toby Ware, 3rd Tayla Casey, highly commended Jordyn Crook Senior junior judging team: 1st - Mitchel Osborne, Tayla Casey and Jordyn Crook Heavy weight steers: Highly commended Norma, bred by the school exhibited by Lachlan Blanch Lightweight steer: 3rd Orlando lead by Courtney Webeck (donated by David and Narelle Bignall) Heavy weight steer: highly commended OTIS lead by Toby Ware (donated by Jane and Howard Lister of Gloucester) Champion trade school steer: OTIS lead by Toby Ware (donated by Jane and Howard Lister of Gloucester) Oscar, Ollie and Oreo were also awarded highly commended ribbons in the heavy weight class. New student, Toby Ware is happy he made the switch to GHS this year due to the great agricultural facilities the school has and the supportive show team. "We get our own animal and everyone is willing to help," Toby said. As well as taking part in the traditional cattle activities at the show, students Jordyn, Mitchell and Jessica, also tried their hand in a rissole making competition for a bit of fun. "These students had to come up with a recipe to make the rissole and were judged on shape, size, smell and overall flavour as a taste test," Ms Blake explained. Six of the seven cattle taken to the show had been donated to the school from Gloucester families, the Shultz family, the Maslen family, the Lister family and the Bignall family. Ms Blake acknowledged how lucky the school was to have so much support from the community in the way of animals, understanding the value of the cattle that is provided. "Without the local community support this program wouldn't be able to run at the school," she said. But it wasn't just the provision of animals, Tim Norrie carted the animals to the show and David Bignall was the bus driver.

Ms Blake opted to bring a larger number of junior students to this event, being mindful of the time away from school for the students who are currently in their HSC year, but also to give the younger students more exposure to the show environment.

Rewarding results at recent cattle show

Champion trade school steer - OTIS donated by Jane and Howard Lister of Gloucester lead by Toby Ware

Champion trade school steer: OTIS lead by Toby Ware (donated by Jane and Howard Lister of Gloucester)

Oscar, Ollie and Oreo were also awarded highly commended ribbons in the heavy weight class.

New student, Toby Ware is happy he made the switch to GHS this year due to the great agricultural facilities the school has and the supportive show team.

"We get our own animal and everyone is willing to help," Toby said.

As well as taking part in the traditional cattle activities at the show, students Jordyn, Mitchell and Jessica, also tried their hand in a rissole making competition for a bit of fun.

"These students had to come up with a recipe to make the rissole and were judged on shape, size, smell and overall flavour as a taste test," Ms Blake explained.

Six of the seven cattle taken to the show had been donated to the school from Gloucester families, the Shultz family, the Maslen family, the Lister family and the Bignall family. Ms Blake acknowledged how lucky the school was to have so much support from the community in the way of animals, understanding the value of the cattle that is provided.

"Without the local community support this program wouldn't be able to run at the school," she said.

But it wasn't just the provision of animals, Tim Norrie carted the animals to the show and David Bignall was the bus driver.